Catholic Social Services Victoria welcomes the reform that is underway in Victoria to improve the way children and families receive support, and help build communities where children are safe and nurtured, and families are supported. But there are complex issues still to be faced, and it will be a continuing challenge to Government and to the community to maintain the momentum of this work, and provide adequate resources.
Victorian Christian leaders, in an open letter, have commended support for palliative care, and have outlined major problems with proposed assisted dying legislation: we need better care, not assisted dying; mistakes and abuse are impossible to avoid; it sends a confusing message to society about suicide; and it can undermine our trust in the medical profession. An earlier submission from Catholic Social Services Victoria also emphasised the need for adequate resourcing for people-centred palliative care as a proper response to the inherent dignity and worth of each person, regardless of age or infirmity.
A group of about 50 grandmothers from Grandmothers Against Detention of Refugee Children La Trobe from the electorates of La Trobe, Wills, Maribyrnong and Batman attended a protest outside Bill Shorten's office on Monday.